Shuangliu County Vice Secretary Wang Huaqiang (left) and Russellville Mayor Bill Eaton sign three copies of a friendship agreement making Russellville a sister city with Shuangliu County, China. One copy will be displayed in Russellville, one will be displayed in Shuangliu County and one will be kept in the Foreign Affairs Office in China. (THE COURIER / Joshua Mashon)

Russellville has a new sister city after entering into a friendship agreement with Shuangliu County, China on Wednesday morning at Russellville City Hall.

Mayor Bill Eaton told the Chinese delegates he was honored to sign the agreement.

“We are very pleased and very much excited about having the opportunity to develop this relationship throughout the coming years,” he said. “This will serve as the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between your county and our city.”

John Pate, director of Arkansas Tech University’s China office, emceed the event and said the agreement will be good for education, agriculture and business in Russellville and Shuangliu County.

“Today we are developing cooperations that will be mutually beneficial,” Pate said.

Shuangliu County Vice Secretary Wang Huaqiang said the purpose of the agreement is to promote mutual understanding and that he has enjoyed his time in Russellville’s culture.

“We are honored to be in Russellville,” Huaqiang said, through an interpreter. “There are beautiful landscapes here. It’s such a delight to have friends coming from afar.”

Shuangliu County is a key area of southwest China, with a population of more than 930,000 and the fourth largest airport in China, he said.

Russellville is ranked 13th in cities in Arkansas by population, Eaton shared with the delegates.

The men signed three copies of the friendship agreement: one to be displayed in Russellville, one to be displayed in Shuangliu County and one to be kept in the Foreign Affairs Office in China.

After signing the three agreements, Eaton and Huaqiang exchanged gifts, which is customary after entering such an agreement.

Eaton presented Huaqiang with a vase-like piece the city commissioned local artist Winston Taylor to create for the event.

Huaqiang gave Eaton a silk brocade made of bamboo with two pandas embroidered on the fabric. Huaqiang said the pandas signify the friendship of Shuangliu County and Russellville.

Judy Galloway, Main Street Russellville board of directors member, attended the event and said she thinks it’s good for the city.

It's only fitting that our Mayor entered into an agreement with Chinese officials as they have a good bit in common. They both suppress their citizens to ( as is evidenced in several City Council Meetings) prevent them from voicing their opinion. Since the Mayor is in cahoots with Walmart ( as evidenced in his photo ops with the Walmart attorney for the Progress Russellville sham) I am sure his counterpart is elated that Russellville will boost his local economy via imports to our two Walmarts